Typewriting-machine



I. WALDHEIM.

TYPEWRITING MACHIIIE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23| r911.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I WALDHEIM TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 23 19H. 7 1,333,825, Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

the numerator and JOHN WALDHETM, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY,

WRITER COMPANY, OF

ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD TYPE- NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEVJRITING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

masses.

Application filed August 23, 1917.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jonx \YALDnnni. a citizen of the l nited States, re iding in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting- Machines, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to an improvementin typewriting machines, and more especially to mechanism for controlling the es capement movement of a carriage when writing fractions, superscripts and subscripts. 7

ln the patent to Kurowski, 1,072,386, provision was made for shittingor rotating the platen an amount less than a line-space in either direction, so as to write either a superscript or a subscript, or so to writedenominator of a fraction. p

In the present invention. which I have preferably shown applied to an Underwood machine. means is provided whereby the platen maybe rotated backward or torward a fraction of a line-space, for the purposes mentioned, and at the same time silence the letter-space mechanism. This includes a lever which may be operated to first coir ncct it with the platen-turning means and silence the escapement mechanism, and then operate it to turn the platen either up or down. In the case of writing fractions, this is especially advantageous in that the numerator. the denominator and the line separating the numerator and the denominator are written in succession with only a single letter-space movement of the carriage.

The -traction-writing mechanism may also be employed. if desired. without silencing the carriage-feeding mechanism.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is an end view, in elevation, partly broken away to show the underlying St1'llCt1l 1(, illustrating the lever, for con comitant-ly silencing the line-space Inechanisin and shifting the platen in its mid neutral position.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.

Patented Mar. 16, 1e20, Serial No. 187,755.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, partly broken away, illustrating the lever for advancing or reversing the platen a distance lessthan a line-space.

Fig. 5 is a skeleton view, in vertical section, showing the lever for operating the escapement-silencing IllGOllInlSlll and the platena'otating mechanism in its rearward position,corresponding to a back line-spat ing of the platen.

Fig. 6 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, showing them adjusted in the opposite direction for a silencing of the escapement mechanism and a forward movement of the platen.

Fig. 7 is a detailed skeleton view, in vertical section, similar to Figs. 5 and 6, except that the lever for controlling both the silencing of the letterspace mechanism and the rotation of the platen is in its neutral, mid position, while the lever for rotating the platen is in its forward position after having backed the platen a distance less than a line-space.

Fig. 8 is a skeleton, perspective view, showing the means for silencing the letterspace mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, illustrating different kinds of work. such as writing fractions and writing-exponents and subscripts. which the improvement is adapted to do.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of the embodiment shown in the drawings, 1 indicates character keys, which, when depressed, rock key-levers 2, so as to rock bell cranks 3, and thus swing type-bars 4 up rearwardly against the platen 5 mounted to rotate in a platen frame 6, by means of a platen aXle 7. The platen frame is supported for case-shifting movements in the usual manner ona carriage-6, and may be shifted by a case-shift frame 6 The carriage 6 has the usual stop-by-step lettecspacing mechanism common to the Underwood typewriting machine. This includes a rack 8, pivotally mounted on the carriage 6, so as to be adjustable into and out of engagement with a pinion 9, con.- nected by a one-way pawl-and-ratchet mech-- anism 10 to an escapement wheel 11. The escapement wheel 1] is controlled by a fixed dog 12 and a swinging dog 13 mounted on a rocker 14. The rocker 14 is, in turn, op

I crated by a universal frame 15, which, in turn, is operated by heels 16, provided on each of the type-bars 4. The manner of operating the rocker 14 from the universal frame 15 is more fully described in the patent to Hehnond 827,726. This arrangement is such, however,that there is provided an adjustable spring 17, mounted on a slide 18, forming an interponent between the uni- 0 versal frame 15 and the rocker '14. The slide 18 is normally in a raised position,

such that the 'universal frame 15 will op-- crate the escapement mechanism at each depression of a character key. The slide 18 15 may be depressed, however, to clear the spring 17 from the path of the universal frame 15, so as to permit the character keys 1 to be operatedidly without a letter-space movement of the carriage 6.

The platen 5 may be rotated, line by line, by means of the usual Underwood linespace mechanism, which includes a linespace lever 19, arranged, when operated, to thrust rearwardly a slide 20, carrying a pawl 21. The pawl 21 engages a line-space wheel 22 secured to the platen axle 7. The line-space mechanism rotates the platen 5 a line-space, which may be a'dist-ance corresponding from one to three teeth of the line-space wheel 22, according to the timing of the engagement of the pawl 21 with the line-space wheel 22. The position of the platen 5 is accurately determined for a line- 1 space by a detent 23, which includes a roller 24 engaging between the teeth of the linespace wheel 22'and mounted on a lever 25.

A'spring 26 nornrally holds the roller 24 to its work. This arrangement is normally "positive, but may yield in order to rotate 4Q the platen 5 to a position other than that determined by the roller 24 settling between two of the teeth of the line-space wheel 22. g The mechanism for advancing orbackwardly-rotating the platen 5 a distance other than a line-space to offset the platen from the regular line-space position, is more fully disclosed in the patentto Kurowski, abovementioned. This'includes a'lever 27 having a handle 28, whereby it may be operated.

l The lever 27 is pivoted intermediate its ends,

l'at 29, and carries a double-acting pawl 30, which, when shifted in one direction, such as the position of Fig. 5, reverses the platen 5 adistance other than a line-space and equal to'the len th of the are, at the surface of the platen subtended by the angle X. In this position, the numerator of a fraction or exponents may be written. The lever 27 may also be swung in the opposite direction, as

. indicated in Fig. 6, so as to advance'the platen 5 a distance less than a line-space, as indicated by Z, so as to write the denominators of fractions or subscripts. The

.; lever 27 may be held in its three positions of adjustment by means of a spring detent 31, which is arranged to settle in any one of three sockets 32, according to the position of the lever 27.

The lever 27 may be operated directly 1 when it is not desired to control the carriage escap'ement mechanism, or it may be 'oper' ated indirectly when it is desired to main tain the carriage stationary in one position for writing the numerator, the denominator and the line separating the two, of a fraction. The mechanism for effecting indirect operation of the lever 27, and thus of the advancing and backwardly rotating mecha-: nism of the platen, includes a lever which is pivotally mounted at 34 on a lever 35, which, inqturn, is pivoted at 36 on a cover plate 36; The lever33 is normally disconnected from the lever'27, but may be connected thereto by means of a link 37, pivoted to an o'fi'set 38 on the lever 27. The'85 link 37 has a slot 39 through which the pivot 34 extends, whereby the lever 33 and the lever 35 may remain stationary while the lever 27 moves back or forth. The lever 33 can be connected to the link 37 by a movement in either one direction or the other.. For this purpose, it is provided with a pair of lugs 40 and 41, wh1ch may be engaged alternatively in a pair of slots 42 and 43, respectively, provided on the link 37.

Centralizing springs 44, carried by the lever 35, engaging on opposite sides of a pin 45 proJectmg from the lever 33, and a pin 46 on the lever 35 normally hold the lever 33 in a disconnected, mid position. When the lever 33 is swung from the full-line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position, the lug 40 is shifted into the notch 42 and forms a means of connection between the lever 33 and the link 37. When the lever 33 is swung in the opposite direction, as in Fig. 6, the lug 41 enters the notch 43 and forms a connection between the link 37 and the lever 33; When the lever 33 is in a neutral position, the lever 35 is held in a neutral position by meansof a pair of stops or locks 47 and 48, engaged, respectively, by the lugs 40 and 41.

lVhilethe lever 33 is pivotally mounted on the lever 35', and has .a limited relative 1'15 movement with respect thereto, it carries the lever 35 wlth it for the rest of its move- 'ment, so as to operate mechanism for silencing the letter-space mechanism of the carriage. This silencing means includes the slide 18, which is operated from the lever 33 when it is desired to write above and below the normal typewriting line Y, (Fig;

45, so as toallow for the initial relative movement between the lever 33 and the lever 35. lVhen the lever 35 is operated, it, in turn, either draws or thrusts on a link 50, which, in turn, rocks a lever 51, pivoted at 52 011 the carriage frame 6. v The lever 51 is provided with a double cam slot 53, which is engaged by a pin 54 provided on a bail 55 pivoted on the same fulcrum as the escapement rack. When the operating lever 33 is swung, either to the right or to the left, it will depress the bail 55 as the two portions of the cam slot 53 are of similar contour. The bail 55 overlies a thrust-link 56, guided at 57, Fig. 8. The thrust-link56, when depressed in this manner, rocks ashaft 58 through the intermediary of an arnr59.. The rock-shaft 58 is provided with a counterbalanced lever 60, which engages a lug 61 on the slide 18. Thus, the slide 18 may be depressed to withdraw the interponent, rendering the escapement mechanism for the carriage 6 ineifectiv'e when the lever 33 is operated in either direction to advance or back-spacethe platen 5. The three positions of the leverage 33 are yieldingly determined by a spring detent 62 engagingin any one of three notches 63, provided on the lever 35. The rock shaft 58 may also be actuated in a manner described in the Helmond patent,

herein mentioned.

The utility of the invention will be readily understood when taken in connection with the above description. Normally, the directly operating lever 27 and the double operating lever 33 occupy the full line. mid position of Fig. 1. In this position of the parts, the platen 5 is under the control of the normal line-space mechanism. including the linespace lever 19, and may be rotated regular. line-space movements in an advan'c- 'ing direction.

The platen may also be r tated forwardly or backwardly by the usual hand-knobs 64, provided on the platen aXle only one being shown. The movements. in either direction are detinitelv determined by the detent 23. If it should be desired to write above or below the normal linespace. less than a line-space distance, then the platen 5 may be forcibly rotated against the action of the detent 23 either forwardly or backwardly. If either a superscript or a subscript is to be written, it is not necessary to silence the letter-space escapement mechanism and the lever 27 is used. Examples of this are indicated at 65 and 66. in Fig". 9. At 65, a is given as an example. This requires that the platen 5 be back line-spaced a fraction of a line-space after the writing of the character a in ord r to write the eX ponent the parts being moved to the 7 position. At 65, the example is, H O. In this case the subscript. when written after the character H, requires the advance rotation of the platen 5 a fraction of a linespace, which is done by moving the lever 27 to the extreme opposite position to that shown in Fig. 7. In both these cases, the carriage (i may be advanced step by step. When writing the expressions indicated at 65 and 66, in Fig. 9, the directly operated lever 27 may be used solely, as explained .in the patent to Kurowski, so as to rotate the platen 5 backward and forward of the norma] line-space position.

At Fig. 9, two other examples are illustratcd, at. 67 and 68, which are the fractions 3 and In the case of the expression the two characters, that is, the and the may be written in succession without a letterspace movement of the carriage 6. Todo this the lever 33 is operated. The carriage 6 is aft'heletter-spflewhere the expression is to be written. The lever first shifted to the right an amount corresponding to that of the dotted line position of Fig. 1, so as to connect the lever 33 and thus the lever 35 with the link 37. The lever 33 can'then be shifted to the position of F ig. 5, whereby it will back line-space the platen 5 through the intermediary of the lever 27 a distance less than a line-space, indicated at X. This enables the charactcr 2 to be written slightly above the mid position of the line of typewriting'i The shifting of the position of Fig. 5 also through the intermediary of the linkage, including the lever 35, the link 50 and the lever 51, depresses the bail 55, so as to withdraw the slide 18 and the interponent 17, thus interrupting the connection between the universal frame 15 and the" escapement rocker 14. Thus, the typewriting of the character 2 does not operate Qthe escapement mechanism, so that the platen 5 and the carriage 6 remain in the same letter-space. The detent 6:2 is effective to hold the lever 35 in its actuated position as in'Fig. 5, the lever 33 being held against movement, relative to the lever 35, by the lug"ei1 engaging the underside of the lock 48. For Wl'iillllg' thecharacter 3, the lever 33 is first shifted to a mid. neutral position, and then in an opposite direction from the dotted line position of Fig. 1. This action first restores the platen to a normal linespace' position. and then re-connects. after disconnection, the lever with the link 37. The lever is then swung to the position of Fig. (5, so as to advance the platen 5 a fraction of a line space. indicated at Z,

lever 33 to the 9 through the iutern'u-diarv of the lever 27,

frame- 15 to the rocker ll, The character 3 is then typewritten and will come in its proper position beneath the 2 and the separating line.

Afterthe 3 (denominator) is written, the handle 33 is returned to the central position,

. thus bringing the platen back to its normal printing line, and also renderin the escapement'devices efiective by permitting the interponent 17', assisted by a suitable spring, to move into the path of the universal bar The dash which separates the numerator and denominator can now be 'written, thus causing a letter-space movement of the carriage. In an expression like 5%, indicated at 67, in Fig. 9, the 2 and the 3 may be written the same as the expression ,'indicated at 66. The dash is then written, whereby the carriage is advanced a letterspace. The platen isthen brought to the poSition of Fig. 5, such that the character 9 may be written above the normal line-space position. Then the platen may be advanced to the normal line-space, and be end the normal line-space a fraction oi a line-space distance, and their'the character 2 is written after which the platen is returned to its norin'al line-space position for printing the pivotally connected to the lever 35,- its other dash, which causes a letter-feed movement of the carriage.

By an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the operating levers 27and 33 are supported by the cover plate 36ivhich may be secured to the platen frame 6" in any convenient manne It will also be seen that the cam lever '51 1 carried by the carriag'e frame 6.

To Provide for the relative up-and-down movement ,between the levers 35 and 51, which takes place during case-shift movements of the platen, said tevo levers are con nected by the link 60, one end of which is end being pivotally connected to the lever 51.

Variations may be resortedto Within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used Withoutothers. Having thus described my invention, I claim .'1. The combination with a platen, of linespace mechanism for said platen, means for temporarily oflsetting said platen from a normal line of writing determined by said line-space mechanism, an escapement mechanism for controlling letter-space movements of said platen, type-actions for writing characters, either offset or in the line of Writing', and means for concomitantly silencing said escapement mechanism and operating said first-mentioned means to offset said platen, whereby said platen will remain at thesame letter-space subsequent to the writing of an offset character 2. The combinationwith a platen, of an escapement mechanism for controlling letter-space movementsof said/platen, means for determining the normal line-space positions of said platen, offsetting means for determining rotary positions of said platen .at other than the line-space positions determined by said first-merit' oned means, silenpmg means for saidescapei'nent mechanism,

and a common control for concomitantly opcrating said offsettingmeans and said silencing means, so as to maintain the platen in the same letter-space position for type-- writing a plurality of characters in a ver- 7 tical line, at least one of which will be oil:

set from the normal line of typewriting.

3. The combination with a platen, of

means for determining the position of said platen for regular line-space 1nterva1s, an escapement mechanism for letter-spacing said platen, a silencing mechanism for said escapement mechanism, a mechanism for determining offset positions of said platen,

other than regular line-space intervals, and

means for concomitantly determining offsetj positions of said platen as to the line-space1 intervals, and actuating said silencing meclr anism, so as to render said escapement mechanism. inactive. 1

l. The combination with a platen, of

means for determining the position of said platen for regular line-space intervals, means for determining oii'set positions of sa d platen other than regular line-space intervals, an escapement mechanism for controllineletter-space movements of said platen, silencing means for said escapement mechanism, and a double-acting control for said oii'setting, means and said silencing-means,

acting to determine offset positions of said said silencingmeans into'play when moved in either direction, and a leverage selec tively connectible to operate said offsettingmeans in either one of two directions, corresponding to offsets above and below-the line, and at the same time operate said double acting shifting means. Y

6. The combination with a platen, of means for adjusting said platen as to its rotary positions for writing, an escapement' mechanism for controlling letter-space movements of said platen, silencing mechanism for said escapementmechanism and a oom -gl mon control for said adjusting means and said silencing mechanism, whereby, for oer tain determinations of the position of said platen, said escapement mechanism may be silenced.

7. The combination with m" 'step-by-step movements of said means for determining line-space positions of said platen, an escapement mechanism for said platen, silencing means for said escapement mechanism, means for operating said silencing means, and a selectible connection between said last-mentioned means and said line-space-determining means.

S. The combination with a platen, of means for determining the position of said platen for regular line-space intervals, oilfsetting means for determining positions of said platen other than line-space intervals, an escapement mechanism for controlling platen, said escapement mechanism including an interponent, shiftable between active and inactive positions, a bail connected to move said interponent to an inactive position, a doubleacting shifting means for said bail operative when moved in either direction to silence said. interponent, a lever for operating said double-acting shifting means, and means for connecting said lever with said offsetting means, said lever being normally disconnected from said offsetting means and from said double-acting shifting means, whereby the former may be operated independently, and whereby said lever may be connected to operate said offsetting means by an idle movement relative to said double-acting shifting means.

9. The combination with a platen, of means for determining regular line-space positions of the platen, offsetting means for determining irregular line-space positions of said platen, an escapement mechanism for controlling step-by-step movements of said platen, silencing means for said escapement mechanism, including a bail, a double-acting lever operative when moved in either direction to shift said bail to silence said escapement mechanism, an intermediate lever for operating said doubleacting lever, a con} trolling lever having a lost-motion connection with said intermediate lever, and a link, normally disconnected from said controlling lever, connected by an actuation of said controlling lever, so as to enable said controllin lever to concomitantly operate said silencing means and said irregular linespace-controlling means.

10. The combination with a platen, of means for determining regular line-space positions of said platen, means for determiningirregular line-spaoe positions of said platen, an escapement mechanism for determining step -by-step movements of said platen, a lever (Onllcctd to control said escapement mechanism, a link connected to control said irregular line-space-determinln means, having a pair of notches therein, and

a pair of lugs connected to said lever, selec- Lively shiftable into engagement with either of said notches, whereby said lever may be also make connected to operate said irregular: linespace-determinin means in either direction, with the concomitant silencing of said as capement mechanism.

11. The combination irregular line-space-determining mechanism for said platen, an escapement mechanism for determining letter-space positions of said platen, a lever connected to silence said escapement mechanism, a normally interrupted connection between said lever space-determining mechanism, latter may be operated independently, means for connecting said lever with said last-mentioned connection, so as to enable said lever to control the action of said irregular determining line-space mechanism, and locking means for hOlCliIlg said lever in an inactive position when said irregular determining line-space mechanism is operated independently. 9

12. The combination with a platen, of means for feeding said platen in a line-space direction, a finger-piece for operating said means, means for feeding said platen in a letter-space direction, and typewriter keys for operating means, said last-mentioned means being adapted to be made ineffective by said finger-piece.

In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a revoluble platen mounted thereon, of typemg on said platen, a handle for turning and said irregular line-. whereby the.

writer keys, types operated thereby for print-' with a platen, of regular line space determining mechanism for said platen,

said letter space feeding sald platen, an escapement for said carriage actuated by a key depression, and a second handle for turnin said platen adapted to said keys ineflective on said escapement.

14. The combination with a platen, of an escapement mechanism for feeding said platen, typewriter keys for operating said escapement mechanism, fractional linespace mechanism, and a finger-piece for said line-space mechanism also adapted to render said escapement mechanism inoperable by said keys.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, including a rotatable platen, of keys, types operated by said keys to print upon said platen, an escapement for said carriage operated by a key depression, a device for making said keys ineffective to operate said escapement at the key depression, a plunger for operating said device,

and a bail on said carriage extending along the carriage and adapted to operate said plunger.

16. The combination with a carriage and a platen carried the by, of typewrlter numeral keys adaptedto effect printing upon the platen, an escapement mechanism for said carriage normally operable by said keys, and means supported by said carriage for rendering saidkeys ineffective on said escapement mechanism while printing.

1 7. The combination with a platen, a

platen frame, a carriage frame on whichsaid platen frame is shift-ably supported, and

case-shifting means, of escapement mechanism, a fractional line-spacer compris ng means for rendering said escapement mechanism ineffective, said last-mentioned means.

comprising two elements, one supported by the platen frameand the .other supported by the carriage frame, and a connection be-' tween said two elements adapted to permit a relative shifting movement of said elements, during a caseshifting operation.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, including a rotatable platen, of keys, types operated by said keys for shifting said frame relatively to the carriage, a finger-piece on said platen frame for operating said bail, and a link extending substantially transversely to' the shifting movement of the frame forming part of the connection between said finger-piece and,

' said bail.

, 19. The combination with a platen, of-a fractional line-spacer for said platen, es---* capement mechanism, devices for Writing superscripts, subscripts and intermed ate characters,'and means for rendering said es capement mechanism ineffective when said platen is fractionally line-spaced for writing superscripts or subscripts, said means being also adapted. to render said escapement mechanism eflective when the platen is re' turned from a fractional line-space position for writing an intermediate character.

20. In. a typewriting machine, the combnation with a traveling carriage, includinga platen, of an escapement for said platen, typewriter keys, types operated by said keys for printing on said platen, means whereby said escapement is operated at a key depression, a handle on said carriage adapted. to be shifted forwardly and backwardly, and means whereby shifting the handle in either direction makes said keys inefiective on said escapement.

- 21. In a typewiiting machine, the combination with a traveling platen and types printing upon a writing line upon the platen,

T of means for effecting a relative movement of the platen and types to vary the position of acharacter to cause it to be printed above lecting the position lengthwise of the Writing line at which the next operated type shall rint a character. I

22. n a typewriting machine, a fraction writing device comprising a travelingplaten and'types for printlng thereon along a rint-' ing line, of asingle manually operal) edevice, and connections therefrom ada'pted to' determine Whether the platen shall travel at the actuation of a type, said. connections also adapted to alter the writing line for said type actuation.

, JOHN ALDHEIM. %nesses:

. ARTHUR A. OI-IN-SON, EPHRAIIM DUSKIS.

or below the adjacent writing line, and a connection operated from said means for se- 

